Correlation of Atmospheric Microplastics with PM2.5/PM10 and Atmospheric Conditions: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The objective of this research is to demonstrate the correlation between microplastics, particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM10), and atmospheric conditions (precipitation, temperature, humidity, and wind speed). The study was based on articles indexed in Scopus and Web of Science (WOS). After using the PICO and PRISMA methodologies, 12 articles were selected for detailed analysis. These covered key aspects such as the physicochemical properties of atmospheric microplastics, sampling procedures, microplastic identification, and the use of statistical tools to evaluate correlations. A positive correlation was identified between atmospheric microplastics and PM2.5/PM10 through statistical analysis (Pearson, Spearman, linear regression, and Kruskal-Wallis), while no significant correlations were observed with meteorological conditions such as precipitation, temperature, humidity, and wind speed. The most common microplastics are polymers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene, which are mostly medium-sized (101–500 μm), fibrous in shape, and transparent in color, characteristics that facilitate their suspension and transport over long distances. In addition, bibliometric analysis shows a significant increase in publications at present, with a predominance of contributions from Asia, especially China, reflecting growing global scientific interest in the subject. In conclusion, the results show that atmospheric microplastics should be considered alongside PM2.5/PM10 in air quality monitoring systems, given their common origin, similar aerodynamic behavior, and joint contribution to air pollution and potential impact on human health